Top five Liverpool players to have donned the number 9 jersey

5. Fernando Torres

‘El Nino’ broke a lot of hearts when he pushed for a transfer and ultimately moved to Chelsea in January 2011. But during his time at the club, he scored loads of goals and his partnership with Steven Gerrard made them a formidable attacking duo.

Torres was signed from Atletico Madrid for a then-club record £20 million, and almost instantly made an impact and started wowing the fans with his goal-poaching skills. He went on to score 81 goals in 142 appearances for the club.

Torres appreciated and respected his number 9 jersey, saying “The fact that Liverpool are giving me the number nine jersey just goes to show the confidence they have placed in me, when considering those who have worn that shirt before me.”

In the Liverpool’s impressive run to second position in league in 2008/09 season, Torres relished playing as the striker in Rafa Benitez’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

Bigger things were expected from the El Nino at Liverpool, but it wasn’t meant to be. The striker has struggled to replicate his Liverpool form after leaving the club, and has now become a subject of ridicule and mockery. It was a shame that he left the club in the circumstances that he did, and because of that he has now lost all the goodwill he had from almost all the supporters.

Torres played the best football of his career at Liverpool and did justice to the number 9 jersey that he wore during his time at the club, and gave the fans plenty to cheer about.

Aspas will hope to emulate the above players and join them in the list of Liverpool greats who wore the number 9 jersey. Liverpool fans will be praying for the same too, and would want Aspas to carry forward his good form from last season at Celta Vigo to the next one for Liverpool.